Draycote Water weekly report week ending Sunday 21st September 2014

Yet again, another tremendous week for Draycote with a seven day rod average getting very close to five! Rods for the week totalled 391 with a combined catch of 1872! Plenty of surface sport has been had throughout the week & the boat fleet has been under much pressure. Advance booking right now is an absolute necessity to avoid disappointment. The boats still out fish the banks although both are providing excellent sport. The bank is still generally at its best early & late in the day. Dries & Daddy Long Legs patterns have produced some amazing bags of fish for many. Buzzers, mainly olive & smaller black ones, have also taken lots of fish – especially in Toft Shallows. Fry feeding (primarily roach & perch) also continues, particularly through the margins on the Cornfield, Lin Croft, up through Biggin Bay & the Tower Bank. Having gutted his catch, one angler described the stomach contents to me as being “like a sardine tin crammed full of baby perch!”

From the records & discussions with anglers, it is clear though that with such fun to be had on the dries right now, & with signs that “Autumn proper” is just around the corner, many of our serious anglers are ignoring these fry bashers for the time being in favour of a well presented dry fly set up on lighter outfits. We all hope that such great surface sport continues for another week or two at least.

Of the many exceptional catches during this reporting period I’ll highlight a few: Tony Broadway stuck to buzzer tactics on the bank for eleven rainbows. Jim Gamble got seriously into the fry feeders in Biggin Bay, also from the bank, taking well into double figures on his white Humungus pattern. Paul Liversidge has started to get to know the water & was rewarded with thirteen to the boat on a variety of patterns & tactics. Congratulations have to again go to Kevin Rees & the continuation of his relentless strive to perfect his dry fly technique! In what he called his “best ever catch” Kevin fished a mix of Bob’s Bits & very skinny, small hoppers on drifts out of the Cornfield. Plucking off fish patrolling the edge of a slick his patience & hard work was rewarded with a total of 32 rainbows to the net! John Hoskins also excelled again this week. His seriously good eight fish limit was topped off with a 6lbs 8oz rainbow. His fish all came from Toft to a size 14 black buzzer fished high in the water.

Cheshire Police visited on Thursday & also got in on the surface action. Sixteen anglers caught 104 trout with top honour going to Richard Hunt & Ian Wood. One angler described the Daddy Long Legs literally “launching themselves onto the water from the side of the boat”! Iver Fly Fishers together with Derby Fly Fishers also visited at the weekend and both clubs enjoyed fine sport. Iver’s Roy Palmer took their top spot with eight rainbows for 20lbs 7oz taken on green buzzers & Diawl Bachs in Toft. Meanwhile, Clive Wilkins showed his Derby FF mates how it was done with a fine 16 fish tally taken on green Shipman’s Buzzers.

It has however, not been a period of big catches for all as some rods have clearly struggled. We all have bad patches at times however, much of the fish population have now become “proper residents” and have long lost their “stocky gullibility”. They are feeding avidly with a multitude of differing food items on their menu. Indeed, I have continually described Draycote as a “Trout’s larder”. Those who ignore this and, despite advice, continue to fish in styles akin to the opening week of the season, are going to suffer in terms of numbers of fish caught. The old adage of “match the hatch” is most appropriate right now. Be mindful of stealth, good imitation and presentation. “Think trout!”

Weekly Stats:

Number Rods: 391Number Trout Taken: 851 Number Trout Released:1021

Total Catch: 1872Weekly Rod Average: 4.78

Current Fishing Time:

Bank: 07:30 until 19:30

Boat All Day: 08:30 until 19:30

Boat Part Day: AM 08:30 until 13:30PM 13:30 until 19:30

Last 4 Hours from: 15:30 until 19:30 (Ticket sales available from 15:15)

All Anglers to be off site by: 19:45

Unfortunately complaints regarding boat etiquette continue to be received. Please have due regard for your fellow anglers on the water, treating them in a manner in which you would wish to be treated yourself. This is especially important with regard to not “cutting up” other angler’s drifts or encroaching on bank anglers by drifting or anchoring too close to the shoreline.

Boat anglers are also politely reminded of the ruling that there is no anchoring within 100 yards of any pontoon or aerators. This is especially relevant to the harbour pontoon as its own mooring chains & anchors extend out a considerable distance from the end of the harbour & are easily fouled.

Boat anglers may wish to note that we now have a rudder for hire at the daily rate of £7. It can be pre booked at the time you make your boat booking.

In order to maintain the accuracy of our records could all anglers please ensure that they fill in the catch return sheet before departure. If not in the lodge it will be found on the counter in the gutting room next door.

Bank Anglers car passes should be booked prior to coming fishing as we only have a limited number available.

As well as our Boat Angler Loyalty Cards, we are now also running a weekly draw for a free boat. Fill in an entry card in the lodge including your name, address & email contact details for inclusion in the draw. I am pleased to announce that this week’s winner is Mr C. Russell of Burbage.